UK and Australia Call for De-escalation in the Middle East

London, June 10 (KUNA) -- The United Kingdom and Australia called on Wednesday for de-escalation in the Middle East and for maintaining the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. This came in a joint statement following a ministerial consultative meeting held in London, attended by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, British Defence Secretary John Healey, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. The statement reiterated both countries’ condemnation of Iran’s ongoing aggressive attacks on Gulf states and its closure of the Strait of Hormuz to international freedom of navigation, noting that the two nations stand with their partners to protect civilians in the Middle East during this crisis. It emphasized commitment to coordinated diplomatic, economic, and military efforts to support freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and to back a British- and French-led, purely defensive, independent multinational military mission. Meanwhile, the statement highlighted the importance of addressing other equally significant international issues, including the Palestinian question and Ukraine, as well as confronting hybrid threats and committing to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. The statement also touched on matters of common interest across various fields, particularly cooperation in economic and military areas, energy security, and climate change. (End) M.R.N. / R.J.